The Help is the little engine that could at the box office. With Emma Stone, Viola Davis and Bryce Dallas Howard starring, The Help powered its way to a first place finish, pulling in $20.5 million in its second week in release.

It ran past three much bigger, more expensive action pictures, Rise of the Planet of the Apes ($16.3 million), Spy Kids 4D ($12 million) and Conan the Barbarian ($10.5 million).